Elevator apparatus



July 23, 1929. E. NEENAN I ELEVA'FOR APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jf BY Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES MICHAEL E. NEENAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEVATOR APPARATUS.

Application filed August 11, 1927. Serial No. 212,221.

This invention relates to elevator apparatus, and more particularly to traction elevator machine of thesingle half-wrap cable type, in which the cables run directly from the car over the traction sheave to the counterweight.

It is one of the important objects of the invention to provide a traction sheave for such cable elevators having a non-metallic tread body provided with a plurality of peripheral cable receiving grooves together with means operable during the operation of the elevator for truing the grooves and correcting any di ameter differentials incident to wear of the traction surfaces.

It is also a further object of my invention to provide improved strain equalizing connections between the cables and the elevator car which, in addition to equalizing the strain on the several cables and indicating such variations as may occur will also appreciably reduce shocks incident to acceleration and retardation of the car movements.

It is a further general object of my invention to provide such improvements in cable elevator apparatus as above characterized which may be readily manufactured at comparatively low initial cost, can be inexpensively installed for use in connection with elevators of this type now in operation and will result .in an appreciable increase in operating efficiency and reduction in maintenance costs.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved elevator apparatus, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated several practical embodiments of the essential features of my present improvements, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, certain parts being broken away and illustrating one practical embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation looking at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation showing a slightly modified form of the sheave groove truing device;

Fig. 4 is a detail view similar to Fig. 2 showing the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing another modified form of the truing device;

F ig. 6 is an end elevation thereof;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 5 and 6 showing still another alternative form of the groove truing device.

Referring in detail to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the elevator cable sheave 5 may be of the general construction shown and described in Reissue Patent No. 15,737, issued to Neenan Elevator Corporation on December 25, 1923. Thus, this sheave is provided with a circumferentially continuous nonmetallic tread portion 6. This tread portion may be conveniently produced from lengths of hemp rope held in closely compacted relation and having their fibers extending radially of the sheave. These rope fibers are thoroughly impregnated with a highly viscous binder, such as paint, the use of which has been found to maintain indefinitely the original co-efiicient of friction at the tread surface.

A plurality of spaced parallel cable re ceiving grooves 7 of the required depth and cross sectional shape are pressed into the peripheral face of this non-metallic tread body 6. The elevator cables indicated at 8 extend over this sheave and are engaged in the respective grooves 7 thereof. The cables extend downwardly at opposite sides of the sheave and are directly connected at one of their ends with the cross head beam 10 of the elevator car 9 while the other ends of the cables are directly connected with the counterweight 11. It is thus seen that the cables 8 have only a single half-wrap over the sheave 5 as distinguished from the double or indirect triple half-wrap of the traction cables where a second sheave mounted in vertically spaced relation below the upper sheave is employed.

In elevators of this type using an all metal sheave, the sheave is provided with V-shaped cable receiving grooves which apply a pinching pressure upon the cables. However, in both types of sheaves having a metallic or non-metallic tread, a certain amount of differential wear of the cable grooves occurs which necessarily results in slipping of the cables running on the grooves of smaller diameters in order that the same speed of movement of all of the cables shall be maintained. .[n the all metal sheave, in addition to this differential wear of the cable grooves, there is also an excessive Wear of the metal cables.

I have provided means for automatically correcting the differential wear of the cable grooves 7 during the operation of the elevator. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the shaft 12 of the sheave is journalled in a suitable supporting frame and upon the base of this frame a supporting member 13 is pivotally mounted at one of its ends as at l t. In this supporting member a series of integrally formed truing rollers 15 are mounted for free rotation on the shaft 16. In the cross bar 1'? at the other end of the supporting member 13, the adjusting screw 18 is threaded, the lower end of said screw having a bearing in a suitable seat 19 provided in the upper surface of the base of the supporting frame for the sheav 5. This lower end of the screw 18 is also provided with a disc or flange l8 having a plurality of spaced sockets formed in its periphery to receive the end of a rod or ot er suitable tool whereby the screw may be conveniently turned. By adjusting this screw, it will be understood that the supporting meml'ier 13 may be readily raised or lowered with respect to its pivot 1d, and the pressure of the rollers 15 on the wall s of the cable grooves 1? of the sheave regulated accordingly. Of course, it will be understood that these truing rollers will first come into contact with the grooves 7 which are of great-est diameter, and as the sheave rotates will exert pressure on the non-metallic tread body (3 until the diameters of said grooves are all exactly the same. Thus, it will be understood that in the operation of the elevator, any differential in wear upon the walls of the cable grooves in the sheave is automatically cor rected, thereby insuring uniformity in the speed of movement of the cables over the sheave and noiseless operation.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that owing to the non-metallic tread structure of the sheave and the means which I provide for correcting unequal. wear upon the walls of the cable grooves 7 and the lat strand type of cable which is employed, that abrasive wear due to relative movement be tween the cables and the sheave tread practically eliminated. Thus the life of the cables is greatly prolonged, absolutely noiseless operation is secured, and the necessity of shut ting down the operation of the elevator in order to make necessary repairsor regrind the cable grooves of the sheave is obviated.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings. I have shown a slightly modified form of the groove truing device, in which the truing rollers 15 are mounted in a carriage 2-2 arranged upon a slide rest 23 similar to that used in an ordinary lathe. The carriage 22 is adjusted by a screw 24: whereby pressure of the rollers 15 on the walls of the sheave grooves may be regulated.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown a truing device similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the'drawings but mounted upon an independent support 26 which can be readily positioned with respect to the sheave in present installations of this type of elevator, and fixed in position relative to the sheave supporting frame by means of the adjustable screws engaging the frame base.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, I show another alternative form of the groove truing device, in which the truing roller is mounted upon a slide rest as in Figs. 3 and i, and is positively driven by means of the flexible shaft 26 fromv a suitable motor 27. Also, as shown in these figures the truing rollers may be in the form of cutting hobbs 28.

The cable ends are connected to the cross head beam 10 of the elevator and to a beam 29 which is connected by rods 30 with the counterweight 11, by means of strain equalizing devices. F or purposes of illustration, I have shown each of these devices as including a rod 31 rigidly secured to the end of the cable. The beam is provided with a cavity 32 of considerable depth in which frictional packing material 33 is arranged and through this material, the rod 31 extends. Below the beam a coil spring 3% surrounds the rod and by adjusting the nuts 35 on the lower end of the rod the tension of this spring may be regulated. Fixed rods projectupwardly from the beam and upon each of these rods an elongated channel shaped cap plate 37 is loosely engaged. The upper ends of relatively short coil springs 38 lit in the channels of said plates, said springs surrounding the respective rods 31 and hearing at their lower ends upon the packing material 33. It will be understood that one of the plates 37 is associated with a pair of the rods 31 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and by adjusting the nuts 39 threaded upon the upper ends of rods 36, the tension of said springs can be regulated. It will thus be seen that the movement of the rods 31 through the packing material 33 frictionally retards the action the springs 34- and 38. These springs thereby equalize the strain upon the respective cables and also serve to absorb shock or jar incident to the acceleration and retardation in the movements of the elevator car.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the several essential features of my present improvements and t is practical advantages obtained thereby will be clearly and fully understood. It will be apparent by substituting the single half-wrap of the elevator cables on a single sheave as distinguished from the multiple sheave and n'iultiple-wrap of the cables commonly employed, I eliminate excessive bending of the cables and stresses resulting therefrom, and also eliminate the pockets formed between the adj acent cable lengths extending between the spaced sheaves, which not infrequently receive and hold heavy objects carelessly dropped in the elevator shaft, with disastrous results to the mechanism and possible injury to the passengers. It will further be evident that by means of the improvements herein described, material and labor costs incident to maintenance of such elevator apparatus in proper working condition is negligible while at the same time greater efficiency and ease of operation is secured than li as heretofore been possible in this type of elevator.

lVhile I have herein shown and described a practical embodiment of the several novel features of my invention which I have found to be highly satisfactory in actual operation, it is nevertheless to be understood that the same may be susceptible of embodiment in various other alternative structural forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of making all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In cable elevator apparatus, a traction sheave having spaced peripheral traction surfaces engaged by the respective elevator cables, and means automatically acting upon said traction surfaces during the running of the elevator to correct differentials in diameter of said traction surfaces incident to unequal wear thereof by the respective cables.

2. In cable elevator apparatus, a traction sheave having spaced peripheral traction surfaces engaged by the respective elevator cables, and a truing device adjustable with respect to the sheave and having rotatably supported parts engaged and rotated by frictional contact with said traction surfaces during the running of the elevator and operating upon the respective traction surfaces to correct differentials in diameter thereof incident to unequal wear of said surfaces by the respective cables.

3. In cable elevator apparatus, a fraction sheave having spaced peripheral traction surfaces engaged by the respective elevator cables, a truing device adjustable with respect to the sheave and having rotatably supported parts engaged and rotated by frictional contact with said traction surfaces during the running of the elevator and operating upon the respective traction surfaces to correct differentials in diameter thereof incident to unequal wear of said surfaces by the respective cables, and means for adjusting said rotatably mounted parts to regulate the bearing pressure thereof upon the traction surfaces.

4. In a cable elevator, a traction sheave having a non-metallic tread provided in its periphery with a plurality of spaced cable receiving grooves, and an adjustable groove truing device mounted beneath the sheave and having rotatable parts frictionally coacting with the respective traction surfaces and operating to correct differentials in diameter thereof incident to unequal wear of the cables upon the traction surfaces.

5. In combination with cable elevator apparatus including a traction sheave having spaced peripheral traction surfaces engaged by the respective elevator cables; a truing device mounted and arranged in situ with the elevator apparatus and having means operating upon the respective traction surfaces of the sheave in the rotation thereof to correct differentials in diameter of said traction surfaces incident to unequal wear of the surfaces by the respective cables.

6. In combination with cable elevator apparatus including a traction sheave having spaced peripheral traction surfaces engaged by the respective elevator cables; a truing device mounted and arranged in situ with the elevator apparatus having means operating upon the respective traction surfaces of the sheave in the rotation thereof to correct differentials in diameter of said traction surfaces incident to unequal. wear of the surfaces by the respective cables, and means for adj ustably positioning said truing device with relation to the traction surfaces of the sheave.

7. In combination with cable elevator apparatus including a traction sheave having a fiber tread provided with spaced peripheral grooves engaged by the respective elevator cables; a truing device mounted and arranged in situ with the elevator apparatus and including means acting upon the fiber tread within the grooves thereof by compression to automatically correct differentials in the diameters of said grooves during the rotation of the sheave.

8. In combination with -able elevator apparatus including a traction sheave having a fiber tread provided with spaced peripheral grooves engaged by the respective elevator cables; a truing device mounted and arranged in situ with the elevator apparatus, including means acting upon the fiber tread within the grooves thereof by compression to automatically correct differentials in the diameters of said grooves during the rotation of the sheave, and manually operable means connected with said truing device and adjustable to position the same relative to the sheave and thereby regulate the compressing pressure against the walls of the sheave grooves.

In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

MICHAEL E. NEENAN. 

